Suggestions on Audio Interconnect (Analogue)?

[admin_exported]

Hi,

I would like to have better imaging and wider soundstage in my system. I'm considering to change the interconnect. I have tried Atlas Equator -> DNM Reson TBB100 -> Clearer Audio Copper-line and Chord Company Chameleon Silver Plus. I would like to know if Russ Andrews Crystal CU or QED Signature Audio S will help. We don't have demo service in my country, other suggestions are also welcome.

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Edwin

 

[Anonymous]

leads dont help with imaging or soundstage

look first at trying your speakers in different positions

if that dosent work then look at an amp or speaker solution

happy new year to you too

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much for your suggestion. I can spare more money in cables in 2010.

Are there any good websites about speaker positioning as I put my speakers in a bedroom, 1 meter from the rear and left side, 1 feet from the right side with toe-in.

Otherwise I may need to look at the amp or speaker. What's the effect of using pre and power amp instead of integrated one?

 

[jimdonnelly]

Check out Chapter 6 (positioning your speakers) from the "Getting the most from your hi fi" section of this website. You will find it in the video tab. It may not tell you anything new, but we all need a reminder now and again.

Good luck

 

[Anonymous]

Have you got anything inbetween the speakers, e.g. hifi rack, TV, etc? Such objects can play havoc with image stability.

What stands do you use for the speakers? You need to make sure that they're absolutely, perfectly stable (some might argue that this isn't true but hey, what have you got to lose?). I would suggest using the stands on spikes.

When you listen, how far away do you sit from the speakers? How far apart are the speakers placed? Are they toed in?

If the speakers are close to a sidewall then the reflections can also play havoc with imaging. There seems to be a fair amount of science behind this but if I remember rightly, the distance to the sidewall is key. There's a good, layman's guide on the Audio Physic Website here.

 

[Anonymous]

My speakers are 5 feet apart and I listen from 6 feet far. There's a plasma TV in between the speakers (1 feet behind). They are on 16 inches wood stands with spikes and toed in at ~15 degree. I just put the CD player and Int Amp on AV rack.

Thanks for the link, will take a look at it.

 

[JoelSim]

Easiest thing is just to try your speakers in a number of positions, with different toe-ins and then keep them when you like the sound the most.

In my room, the best imaging and 3D sound comes when the speakers are in the corners rather than too much space. It goes against convention but that's how I like it best.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, JoelSim. I will have a try on it.

I read from your signature that you tried many cables. I'm curious about how Nordost and Kimber compare to Clearer Audio and Chord.

 

[JoelSim]

Difficult to do a full comparison as I have Chord Odyssey on one pair of floorstanders (4m pair) and Kimber 4tc on a pair of standmounts (8m pair) in a different room. Both are very good and significantly better than QED SA XT and 6mm copper. Given the choice I would probably go for the Kimber.

My experience of Nordost is on a mains lead and an interconnect (Shiva and Heimdall) and I have been very impressed with both. I am definitely a Nordost fan. The Shiva showed a huge improvement over a Merlin Black Widow, the Heimdall was a big improvement over a Chord Chameleon.

I have two Clearer Audio Silverlines, but it's difficult to compare as these aren't on my CDP where the biggest difference occured, as my Shiva is there.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm also fond of Nordost but it's too expensive to try one.

Do you mean changing mains lead have bigger difference than interconnect from your experience?

 

[Anonymous]

Get a pair of Van Den Hul D102 MKIII Hybrid and you will not be dissapointed...and you don't need to pay a bomb for it too!

If you need subtle nuances, this cable
will deliver. If you need complexity and massive sound stages, this
cable will deliver. If you want blood, thunder and brimstone, this
cable will deliver.

In fact, this cable's greatest virtue is that it
delivers whatever there is to deliver, and if it's not there, then it
probably wasn't there in the original material.

Highly recommended.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, it sounds too good to be true. How does it compare to the newer models?

 

[Anonymous]

ValianTX:
Get a pair of Van Den Hul D102 MKIII Hybrid and you will not be dissapointed...and you don't need to pay a bomb for it too!

If you need subtle nuances, this cablewill deliver. If you need complexity and massive sound stages, thiscable will deliver. If you want blood, thunder and brimstone, thiscable will deliver.

In fact, this cable's greatest virtue is that itdelivers whatever there is to deliver, and if it's not there, then itprobably wasn't there in the original material.

Highly recommended.

it will indeed deliver but only after youve tried positioning the speakers differently or if that dosent work changing the amp or source

 

[Anonymous]

one off:ValianTX:
Get a pair of Van Den Hul D102 MKIII Hybrid and you will not be dissapointed...and you don't need to pay a bomb for it too!

If you need subtle nuances, this cablewill deliver. If you need complexity and massive sound stages, thiscable will deliver. If you want blood, thunder and brimstone, thiscable will deliver.

In fact, this cable's greatest virtue is that itdelivers whatever there is to deliver, and if it's not there, then itprobably wasn't there in the original material.

Highly recommended.

it will indeed deliver but only after youve tried positioning the speakers differently or if that dosent work changing the amp or source

It will deliver regardless of your kit or how you have positioned them!!! This is a honest cable and will transfer what you have on your disc faithfully - it doesn't add anything and neither does it take away anything.

 

[Anonymous]

absolute bosh but happy new year anyway

 

[Anonymous]

edwinlee:Thanks, it sounds too good to be true. How does it compare to the newer models?

Yes, it's TRUE. I've had all sorts of kit and cables, so trust me on this. If you're not happy, sell them on E-bay.

 

[Anonymous]

one off:absolute bosh but happy new year anyway

Bosh, Gosh or Wosh - it's his call, not yours. He can try it or disregard it - entirely up to the OP.

 

[Anonymous]

really dont understand how you can believe but you do so thats that

take it from me and the others whove contributed to this thread that speaker positioning is the answer and if that dosent work kit change

 

[Anonymous]

one off:
really dont understand how you can believe but you do so thats that

take it from me and the others whove contributed to this thread that speaker positioning is the answer and if that dosent work kit change

The VDH is indeed a great cable. In my opinion, it's better than the run of the mill budget and to some extent, mid-range options out there and as ValiantTX has described it, is an honest cable. Try it and keep it if you like it or flog it if you don't.

Speaker positioning is the answer to what exactly? A toe-in may offer a more focused soundstage as oppossed to a dispersed one, and is a matter of personal listening taste, nothing more, nothing less. Your argument that you need to dispose of your entire kit if the speaker positioning does not work is flawed and is devoid of any reasonable logic or sense.

Infact, it's ridiculous.

 

[Anonymous]

EvilWolf:one off:
really dont understand how you can believe but you do so thats that

take it from me and the others whove contributed to this thread that speaker positioning is the answer and if that dosent work kit change

The VDH is indeed a great cable. In my opinion, it's better than the run of the mill budget and to some extent, mid-range options out there and as ValiantTX has described it, is an honest cable. Try it and keep it if you like it or flog it if you don't.

Speaker positioning is the answer to what exactly? A toe-in is a matter of listening taste, nothing more, nothing less. Your argument that you need to dispose of your entire kit if the speaker positioning does not work is devoid of any reasonable logic or sense.

Infact, it's ridiculous.

i suggest you read through the posts on the thread before you jump in and make silly comments

also if you dont understand some things best not to post about them

theres not a cable made that can improve imaging and soundstage trust me

also what is an honest cable exactly do you mean mine if lying to me in some way

 

[Anonymous]

I trust only my ears and my eyes with my money. I disregard obnoxious, vile and frankly rude imbeciles like you.

I understand a lot more about hi-fi and home cinema than you will ever fathom, so please retreat to your cave dwelling.

Goodbye and good riddance.

 

[Anonymous]

interesting that you dont trust your reason

but look nothing personal i just resolved to tell the truth this year and realised theres nothing that annoys people more

im off to start celebrating shortly so will raise a toast to you

have a good one

 

[Anonymous]

Oh dear! All that's being said is that speaker and listening position will have a very big bearing on the performance and imaging of the system. If the positioning and acoustics are impeding or upsetting the sound then a cable won't fix it. Cables are, indeed, important as you need to make sure that the signal is as unchanged as possible.

Happy new year to all!

 

[Anonymous]

cables do make a difference, but only very slight IMHO

 

[Anonymous]

Edwin, what is the room size and what is the length of the wall where the speakers are against? ...